What I found to be even more stupid is the brief about the rankings which says that no player is allowed to appear on the list more than once. You can find the top 100 cricketers here in the ICC Best-Ever Test and ODI ratings. Sir Bradman and Sir Richards must be lucky enough as the ICC is still considering those legendary cricketers to be the No.1 in Test and ODI cricket respectively.

The list and the criteria are awful, appalling and terrible. My reader friends are free to add more to the list of adjectives.

Each side has pieces of the puzzle that the other doesn’t. So its in their interest to act together.

It could be the WTF statement (suggestion) of the day. McCormak needs to be enlightened that the Pakistanis are not interested and have already denied chances of a joint investigation.

Read what the Bush administration has to say on the joint probe here.

Is n’t it funny to watch the terrorist nation attempt to save its face and claim to be a peace loving nation?

Ricky Poning and his men were found wanting in a match that would be remembered for the spectacular batting display by the South Africans. It was rather amazing to watch Grame Smith relax while his team was racing towards a record chase at Perth without much difficulty. A fabulous win this was for the visitors who chased 414 runs quite comfortably leaving the hosts in dismay. Smith’s century provided the much needed start and his partnership with Hashim Amla proved vital. Then on the momentum was carried by DeVilliers who, along with debutant Duminy, guided his team to a record win against Aussie.

Beating the Aussies in their backyard isn’t that easy. But Smith’s team showed it isn’t that difficult too. The Aussie glory is slowly fading away as is their dominance in world cricket.

Personally, I’m loving the Aussie defeat not that I hate them but because the champion team has been outplayed.

A blistering knock from Sehwag ensured the target of 387 was very much gettable while Tendulkar’s century coupled with Yuvraj’s brilliant comeback innings helped India record the fourth highest run chase in Test cricket. The chennai test between India and England turned out to be a fabulous contest in which the hosts showed a lot of resolve and won comprehensively.

India did not have a say when England dominated the first three days and chasing 387 wasn’t easy on a pitch that produced both turn and bounce. But for India, the batsmen have delivered when it mattered most. The fans witnessed a ‘special hundred’ from (and for) Tendulkar—this is his first fourth-innings century in a Test win for India. All through his innings, Tendulkar looked determined and equally brilliant while Yuvraj ably supported him with an amazing knock. All those critics of Tendulkar better watch out.

A fantastic win this is for Team India. With the momentum going its way, this Indian team is becoming capable of doing anything.

Image Credit: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images

Is this true?

Inflation is down to 8.4 per cent and fuel prices cut down by govt., but terrorism seems to be a consistent performer. Is this the state of India today?

This cartoon says so.

Image Courtesy: The Hindu

Mumbai under terror attack

Oh God. What is happening to India? What are these bloody terrorists up to? What on earth do they want? Damn these bastard killers.

Terrorists have attacked Mumbai besieging hotels with hostages, firing aimlessly firing at crowds in railway stations and hospitals. A highly planned onslaught by unknown terrorists, this could be the country’s worst attack ever. More than hundred, including 14 police personnel and civilians, have been reported killed in this tragic and most disastrous terror attack.

The nation’s financial capital looks dreadful with the ongoing attack. Even as the efforts to free the hostages and knock down the terrorists go on, and the nation mourns the death of 101 people, our respected Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil continues to make stupid statements like this

Before I could reach there, the terrorists who had attacked one of the hospitals, the Cama Hospital, had left and those who attacked the railway station had also left.

The Union Home Minister considers this attack as ‘an act of cowardice’. Wonder how and why we have allowed such great brains stay in one of the country’s most respectable and responsible positions. A group of people, armed with destructive weapons, storm into public places like hotels, railway stations and hospitals only to fire at anyone visible–what kind of cowardice act is this?

Bomb blasts and serial killings have been part of life in India. But this attack calls for a serious thinking on the government’s and intelligences’ part. When will the nation be saved from such terrible attacks?

That is 2000 hits for my blog which now has 30 posts. I’d like to thank all my reader friends for their encouragement and support.

Image Courtesy: Purenintendo.com

It comes out of a mutual agreement that included Tiger Woods’ desire for more personal time for the 14-time major winner who is expecting his second child in late winter as well as the search for budget efficiencies during a  difficult economy for General Motors.

You might be flabbergasted to know that GM termed the timing of this decision as ‘sheer coincidence’ and not the result of the crisis. The statement by a top executive from GM says it all.

This decision is the result of discussions that started earlier in the year and the timing of this agreement with these other activities is purely coincidental.

Guess what? A wishful thinking GM might want to use this ‘latest cost-cutting attempt’ to plead with the govt. for any rescue package, and Tiger Woods will now have ‘more personal time’ at his disposal.

P.S.: To know the reasons why GM ends endorsement deal with Tiger Woods read this.

Detroit - On the verge of collapse

The Detroit needs a Saviour desperately but the question is if it “is worth the effort”.

It was bound to happen and they are facing the worst ever humiliation. The humiliation is for the Detroit’s Big Three—General Motors, Ford and Chrysler—looking for ways to save themselves from the devastating downfall. Reports and expert opinions state there is no way the US car majors, GM and Chrysler in particular, can escape the misery of running out of cash to manage their operations.

It happened this way. The US carmakers found themselves way behind their Japanese counterparts in their products and strategies. For years they would sell the same old gas guzzling Pickups and SUVs not realising the need to shift to cars customers need. Japanese companies, led by Toyota, did well to bring out hybrids and, small and fuel-efficient cars. Dipping sales and continuous losses unsettled GM and the world’s leading carmaker is now on the brink of bankruptcy. Ford and Chrysler are also struggling to put back their businesses into working order.

While one can foresee the fall in Detroit’s number—probably a merger of GM and Chrysler would take place—the auto crisis might affect the Japanese car makers badly. The collapse of an auto maker could affect the Toyota and Honda—they invested heavily in the North American market and assemble almost 50 per cent of the vehicles they sell in the region—integrated system of supply chain being the problem. Most of the suppliers hence look vulnerable to the industry’s troubles.

Whether the govt. is willing to come to the rescue of the auto companies is the question. The Democrats are seeking help for automakers to save millions of jobs from a possible collapse. Will the Bush administration look at transferring some amount from the US$ 700 billlion bail out plan to the rescue of Detroit? If not, this would be a tame and disastrous end to Detroit.